Merrifield started Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins at third base, something he hasn't done in a regular-season game since 2016.

Merrifield may have had another year or two left as an everyday second baseman had he chosen to sign with a non-contender this winter, but his decision to sign with the Phillies means he'll have to prepare for a utility role. Just how often Merrifield finds himself in the lineup may depend primarily on the health and effectiveness of the Phillies' other options. Merrifield should start against most southpaws, in place of either Bryson Stott at second or Brandon Marsh in left field, but if he winds up featuring frequently against righties, it's probably because Johan Rojas played himself out of a starting role in center field. If that were to happen, the likely outcome would be Marsh in center with Merrifield in left in most games. As for the hot corner, that's Alec Bohm's spot, but Merrifield may now be the top backup.

Andrus agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Sunday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Andrus spent last season with the White Sox, and he was unable to secure a major-league contract for 2024 after he posted a .251/.304/.358 slash line with six homers and 12 steals in 112 contests. The 34-year-old should compete for a roster spot as a backup middle infielder.

Kingery was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta due to an illness, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Kingery had been slated to start at shortstop and bat eighth, but he became the latest victim of the bug that has been making its way around the Phillies clubhouse. Though Kingery is attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, he's considered a longshot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster and is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Acuna was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 21-year-old was with the Mets for the first couple weeks of big-league camp but will now move over to the minor-league side of spring training. Acuna immediately became one of the Mets' top prospects after being acquired from the Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade in July, and a strong showing at Syracuse this season could set up the young infielder's MLB debut later in the year.

Marte went 2-for-3 with two doubles in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.

Marte has hit safely in all five Cactus League games, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He will be Arizona's primary second baseman for a third consecutive season in 2024. Since moving to the keystone in 2022, Marte has played 137 and 150 games in successive seasons. Prior to moving full-time to second base, he was bedeviled by hamstring issues when the Diamondbacks made him a full-time center fielder from 2019 to 2021.

Manager Skip Schumacher indicated Friday that Brujan has "a high likelihood" of winning a spot on the Marlins' initial 26-man roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

"He's got a really good chance to make the team," Schumaker said. "He's versatile. He's done enough in Triple-A. He can run. He switch hits. He can do a lot of things for us. I haven't told him that he's made the team or anything like that, but I would anticipate him being part of our club." Brujan was picked up from the Rays in an offseason trade and is out of minor-league options, so him making the Opening Day roster wouldn't be a huge surprise, but it remains to be seen what kind of role the 26-year-old can carve out on a Miami roster that already has Jon Berti entrenched in a utility role and also added Nick Gordon in February.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that McNeil is dealing with left biceps soreness and will be shut down from hitting for a few days, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil will not undergo an MRI as the injury isn't believed to be serious enough to warrant that, but the infielder will be reassessed by the team Tuesday. He was expected to make his spring training debut in the first week of March, but the Mets are opting for the cautious approach given the biceps soreness is in the same arm that McNeil sustained a partial ligament tear late last season. He slashed .270/.333/.378 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI over 648 plate appearances in 2023.

Estrada has gone 3-for-12 over four Cactus League games.

While the Giants' infield is getting crowded after Friday's signing of Matt Chapman, there's little reason to think Estrada is in danger of losing his starting job at the keystone. Estrada hit .271 with a .731 OPS, 14 home runs, 23 stolen bases, 49 RBI and 63 runs scored over 120 contests last year. With a little more pop in the Giants' lineup, his counting stats could rise if he stays in the top half of the order.

Gonzales went 2-for-3, hitting one double and scoring once in Pittsburgh's 9-8 loss to Baltimore on Thursday.

Gonzalez is in a fierce competition for one of the final spots on the Opening Day roster, as the 2020 first-round pick is battling with Liover Peguero and Ji Hwan Bae for a utility infield job. Through a handful of spring-training at-bats, he's hitting .300, but he'll need to consistently maintain success after hitting just .209 last season across 35 games.

Turang went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Milwaukee's 7-5 loss against Texas on Thursday.

Turang is slated to be the Opening Day second baseman, though it's possible Milwaukee could go with other options depending on if his bat remains an issue (.218 batting average across 404 plate appearances in 2023). That the 24-year-old is hitting .375 on an admittedly small three-game spring training sample size is encouraging, however. Turang's plus glove will likely afford him ample leeway, but it's possible Joey Ortiz, Owen Miller or Andruw Monasterio could play more if the hitting woes really drag into the new season.